Here we are, collegiettes, back in the swing of another semester here at the University of Ottawa. Classes have begun, assignments are starting to flood in, and midterms are coming up. More importantly, to deal with the harsh reality of another semester of classes and stress, reading week is here! For some, that could mean going to a warm, sunny destination for vacation. For many of you, it is staying in Ottawa and taking a load off. No matter what you are doing, this time is meant for relaxation and putting aside some time for yourself. But after reading week, the semester goes on. To prepare for the rest of the semester, here are some tips for being productive during your week off!
Schedule Your Time for Schoolwork
It can be hard to sit down and do some work. Plan out when you are going to sit down and focus on school. Whether it is a day, a few hours in the week, or every night, any time will help. Scheduling your time will not only allow you to get ahead in your schoolwork, but also for you to keep your mind fresh on your week off!
Find Creative Ways to Study
The only thing worse than realizing you should do some studying over the break is realizing that there are more exciting things that you could be doing. To compensate for this, make your work fun! If you have readings to catch up on, try the old “piece of candy per paragraph” with your favourite candy to make it more fun. If you need to study, make a game out of it so that it doesn’t seem like such a grueling task. Do anything to make your schoolwork a little more fun!
Work at the Right Place
One of my biggest challenges when I go home for the reading week is finding somewhere that will make me focus on my schoolwork. No matter where you go, pick a place that seems to give the least distractions and the most productive environment to do your work. If you are going on vacation, try in your hotel room or somewhere quiet. If you are at home, try somewhere that isn’t near a TV or loud conversations. Having the right environment to work in will make it much easier to power through your work.
Use Your Traveling Time
If you are traveling far for your week off, use that time to get some studying done! If you are flying, take advantage of connections and long flight times to get some reading done. If you are taking the train or bus, take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and work on that research paper that is due later in the semester. Not only are you not taking time out of your vacation, you also get to make the time spent traveling quicker.
​Plan a Study Date
If you will be with your friends or with your significant other over the break, make the best of it and plan a study date! Whether you all attend the University of Ottawa or go to different universities, studying in a group setting is much more enjoyable than studying alone. Get your friends together or text your significant other, set up a meeting place, grab some coffee, and get to work! This way, you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing time with your friends for studying.
These are just a few of my favourite tips for studying at a time when I really don’t want to. You don’t have to sacrifice your entire break for studying, but staying productive will help you in the long run. You will thank yourself for starting that term paper or doing those readings when finals come along! What are your best tips for staying productive over reading week?
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Sources:Â 4tests